Residents demand meeting with Parks Dept following dog ban at Jameson Park

CONCERNED dog owners recently met at Jameson Park to discuss the way forward after the Parks Department banned dog walking in the public open space.

At the meeting, residents voiced their displeasure with the decision saying there had been no consultation with the community.

As a first step, the residents drafted a letter to the head of Parks, Thembinkosi Ngcobo, saying the banning of dog walking at the park was unlawful, and calling for a meeting to attempt to find an outcome that ensures everyone’s interests are met.

Residents said they had used Jameson Park uninterruptedly for many years, however between 17 and 20 September were denied access to Jameson Park by a uniformed Parks Department employee and signage at the entrance to the park, which earlier permitted dogs on leashes, was replaced with one banning dogs altogether.

In the letter, residents stated that walking of dogs in the park was a leisure, social and health activity and the opportunity to do so at Jameson Park held great value to them; this decision to stop the use of this amenity adversely affects residents.

ALSO READ: Dog walkers angered by closure of Morningside ‘dog park’

“There are no suitable alternatives to Jameson Park within walking distance of our homes.”

“The size of Jameson Park meant that dog walking happened without affecting other parks users, such as picnickers, joggers, people doing yoga or playing frisbee as well as the homeless sleeping there. If we were to descend on Mitchell Park now, it would disturb the enjoyment of others at this already crowded facility,” they stated.

They said while they conceded that some other parks users with dogs have recently failed to pick up their excrement, if this is the reason for the action, then the total ban on dogs is disproportionate and unreasonable.

“Measures exist to eliminate the problem which fall short of a total ban of dog-walking. The banning is also an incomplete solution to excrement found at the park as several persons defecate in the park too every day,” they said.

The residents said they were not advised of the decision.

ALSO READ: Leash-free hours proposed for Jameson Park dogs

Proposals laid out by residents, at their own cost, included installing a dog-bag dispenser at entrances to the park, increasing the number of bins, agreeing on limited times or days of use of the park for dog walkers, agreeing to a limited area of use of the park, handing out pamphlets to new dog walkers educating them on the issues, and employing people, with proper equipment, to make a sweep of the park daily to remove any excrement that may not have been noticed.

The residents said should the municipality elect to maintain their decision, they would have to consider legal action.

They requested a response by 2 October on the matter.

In an update on the matter, ward councillor, Ernest Smith, said: ”I queried the legality of the situation, stating I felt it was concerning that the municipality didn’t consult with the community on this matter, and that the decision to ban dog walking in the park seemed to have been made on the day of a parks activation on 8 September,” he said.

Smith invites the public to sign a petition in support of opening Jameson Park for dog walking. Let your voice be heard by supporting this petition:
https://forms.gle/Z6k3So8Mb22c1aji9

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